The N initial for the Greek male names?

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AllsTar

Well, my ex was greek and her dad's name is Achilles something but like all Greeks know, Nicholas or Nikolis is so very common in Greek families which means her bro was nicky meaning nicholas, lol....
Anyways, Efaristo Poli anyways....
Regards-

Marcus P. Cato

The reason you are confused is that some Greeks have two given names, and some Greeks use their fathers' name (patronym) as a middle name. A second given name is usually spelled out in full, but patronyms are usually abbreviated to the first initial.

A second thing you need to consider is that many Greek names have formal and friendly forms. For instance, my father's name is Ioannis, so I use the initial "I." in my middle name. However, most people call my father "Gianni".

My guess is that in "Alex N. Caulos", "N." refers to the formal version of the father's name, whereas in "Stavros Ares Caulos", "Stavros" and "Ares" are both given names referring to the boy.

manos_ch2000

In Greece and other Mediterranean countries the middle letter of a name indicates the name of the father.
N probably stands for Nikolaos or Nikiforos or Nikitas but if the father is called by the short version of his name then can be different.like "Lakis" or "Akis" or .......
For example my real name is Emmanuel but for short they call me Manos. See M with E

Another explanation is that the father is their step father.

cpinatsi

The middle initial usually is the initial of the father's name. The brother could have 2 names, if he writes them both fully (Stavros Ares). So he could write Stavros Ares N. Caulos.
We don't always use the father's initial in the middle. Anyway, just ask them, what we tell you about the middle initial is true, usually it is the father's first name initial, but anyone can do something which is not the usual thing, so we wouldn't know.

emiliosailez

There are some good explanations but frankly I think that somebody is pulling your leg. The last name "Caulos" has a definite sexual connotation.

Roubini

I can't really understand what you mean! I am Greek and I haven't notice what you say! If someone's middle name starts frm N,the same is for their brother!

charlotte

i agree with manos

ctitek

I am male Greek, and have three brothers who are Greek.

I have my fathers name as my middle name (Vasilios)

my older brother has my grandfathers name as the middle name

But my brothers have different middle names (I forget).

It depends on the tradition of the region of Greece.

Takis

He just has 2 names and maybe the second is too long (like Nikiforos or something) so he only uses N.

really dont know

Donald

May be this is not the initial of their father's name. They could have two names, and the intitial is of their second name.

I have two names....

Gyps

My son-in-law is Greek and think I understand what you are asking
In Greece, a first son is given the First name of his Grandfather and the initial only of his father...not a full name but the initial of it.
say Evangelos P .......... means his grandfather was named Evangelos but his fathers name was probably Panagiotis or something like that

tj#1

That letter signifies the darker greeks.

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